Several people have inquired about the short term trips to visit us. Joe Baucom sent this great overview of the process to one such family. I thought it would be helpful to some of you.
From your friendship with Lewis and Melody you probably have a lot of information about the work of Rafiki in Africa; but if I may, I would like to give you an overview of what we do there. Rafiki has orphanages [villages] in ten countries on the continent, located in Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. All are countries where the needs of orphan children are truly overwhelming due to HIV/AIDS, Malaria, poverty, war and famine. All countries are English speaking.
There are approximately 85 full time missionaries called Rafiki Overseas Staff [ROS] serving in our villages; with around eight more who are raising their support to go full time. A full time ROS will serve from two to six years. As well, each year, we send out from 175 to 200 short-term missionaries called mini-missionaries [MM’s] who serve for two weeks or more in various areas in a village. Two weeks is the average time for a MM to serve, but you may serve longer if your schedule permits.
In each village, we provide help in three principal areas.
1. Childcare: The sheltering, feeding, clothing and loving of orphan children in a Godly environment. Currently, we have approximately 400 children under the age of nine living in our villages with more coming each month.
Our mission is to raise and education the children God has entrusted to us to be Godly leaders in their own country. We do not place our children for adoption.
2. Education: Our program provides a classical preprimary, primary [grades 1-6] and secondary [grades 7-9 and 10-12] education. Our school curriculum, designed by Rafiki, meets all educational standards and requirements of the host country. An education is provided to each child living in the village and is also offered to teenage boys and girls living in the surrounding communities at no charge.
3. Medical: Daily health care is provided to the children and to the national staff. Quarterly, at six of our villages, we conduct a 10 day community medical clinic for those living in the surrounding communities who do not have heath care. During a clinic, the medical team will
often see 1,000 patients or more. Medical personnel come from the U.S. to assist.
This year, we've started adding dental health clinics. To date, we've had a dental clinic in Uganda and one was just completed in our village in Jos, Nigeria; and in late August and September, a clinic will be held in our villages in Malawi and Kenya.
A Rafiki village is around 50 acres of schools, cottages, homes for the ROS and MM's, a medical clinic, dinning hall and laundry. Many villages employ several dozen from the local communities to help in a variety of areas.
As I'm sure you've learned from Lewis and Melody, short-term [mini-missionary] servants with all kinds of skills and interests are need throughout a village. The ongoing success of our work in Africa is very much supported by the incredible service of so many brothers and sisters in Christ who serve short-term each year. Serving in a Rafiki village is a life changing experience and as a result, many return year after year to serve again.
To prepare you for your service in a village, Rafiki has a one time training program requirement. This is a Friday evening and all day that Saturday at our home office in Orlando, Florida. It is a wonderful time of fellowship and well worth the time necessary to attend. Friday evening is dinner at the director's home to meet her, the Rafiki home office staff and the others there for training. The cost of the training is your airfare to and from Orlando booked by you and a $150 training fee. The training fee covers your transportation cost to and from the airport in Orlando, all food and hotel for two nights.
The 2008 training dates before summer are: February 8th-9th; March 7th-8th; April 11th-12th or May 2nd-3rd. At the training,you will learn more about the issues in Africa, Rafiki's response to them, why and how and how important you will be to the work there. I have attached an mini-mission application. If interested in the September or October training or at another time, please complete an application for each of you, and e-mail or direct mail it back to me with the training date you're interested in and I will schedule you.
The cost of a trip to Africa and a Rafiki village will depend on how long you stay in the village. On average the cost for a two week stay including airfare, visa, insurance, tax and room and board is approximately $3,600. Spending money and the cost of a safari is separate. [A safari in Kenya is around $600 and from personal experience, an adverture worth every cent.] I know the trip is a large amount, but I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with so many who have agreed to serve for two weeks or longer. Every one started with zero, had the same concerns you have now; and not one failed to have exactly what they needed to go. Based on my experiences, I believe that if God wants you there, you will have what you need to go. If you are faithful to work hard to raise the funds you need, God will be faithful to you [Psalm 145:13]. I can also suggest some ways you can go about raising your funds. You will need a passport and shots.
This web site: http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s68/kdggdk/Rifiki/ has photos of the Rafiki village in Kenya; and a safari. A group of five from our church returned from there in June. Three of them had medical training and served during the community medical clinic; and two served as teachers.
I hope I've given you some good information about Rafiki and answered all your questions; and given you a sense of just how much you are needed in a Rafiki village.
Please don't hessiate to let me know you have other questions any time; and if you would like to attend the training.
Serving for the glory of the Lord,
Joe Baucom
Rafiki Area Representative
joebauc@aol.com
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:36-38
